Monday, September 15, 2014

First, Frankie Corrado is a bozo for his dirty elbow on Johnny Gaudreau. There's no excusing this type of hit. This is a dirty hit that needs to be eliminated from the game of hockey. Checking out his stats, Corrado is nothing more than a two-bit hack that will have a hard time cracking an NHL line up.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

“Since being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the NHL Draft in Philadelphia on June 27, I have been asked many times about whether I would continue with my plans to attend Boston College, or play junior hockey instead. In an effort to avoid controversy and further questions on the subject, I responded that I was looking forward to attending BC in the Fall. While I have had every intention of playing for Coach (Jerry) York and joining the best college hockey program in the country, since the end of my hockey season at the USNDTP I have been questioning whether going to school was the best situation for me.

"Perhaps I should have acknowledged my growing indecision when asked about my plans, but it was difficult to explain to those who were asking when I did not even know myself what I wanted to do. After a great deal of thought and discussion with my family, I have spoken with Coach York and informed him that I will be playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers this season.
"I think that BC is the best choice for those players who wish to go to school and play hockey. Every player’s path to achieving his goal of playing in the NHL is different, and the best route for some is not necessarily the best route for others. For me, the opportunity to play in the OHL is the right decision.

"If I have disappointed anyone, particularly the great people I have met at BC, it was certainly not my intention to do so, and for that I am sorry. I hope that BC and those involved with its hockey program understand my decision.”

Sunday, August 03, 2014

This would be a big loss for the Boston College Eagles "if" this happens. The #MilanoWatch is officially on. But those that think the Eagles cupboard is bare is highly mistaken. The Eagles will still probably be one of the top teams in Hockey East this year.

Milano has told those around him that he'd make a decision -- BC or OHL -- after the US national junior camp is finished.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 4, 2014

LRT: Looks like the only thing that's official is that #MilanoWatch is on. Just another summer in CHL-NCAA recruiting war.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) August 4, 2014

Also, look for CBJ 1st rounder Sonny Milano to announce he'll forego playing at Boston College in favour of the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) August 3, 2014

Alain Poupart - NHL.com --- The
Fellow defenseman Michael Matheson, the Panthers' first-round pick in 2012 (No. 23), had a strong outing in the same game, although he didn't score. He won't be in training camp with the Panthers two months from now, though, because he'll be preparing for his junior season at Boston College.

For Matheson, waiting one more season is simply part of the process.

"I have to go back there and work hard and make sure I develop my game so that I can get it to this level," Matheson said. "I just felt that I could develop more at BC and that I have some more developing to do there.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Another former college hockey player with an amazing goal at the World Championships. This goal by former Boston College Eagale forward Johnny Gaudreau's helped lead Team USA’s 5-4 victory German this past Tuesday at the World Championships. This might be a preview of thing to come in Calgary.

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

The 2014 Hobey Baker Hattrick has been announced. These are the two other players that will sit with Johnny Gaudreau when he wins the Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy on April 11, 2014. Congrats to all three players. They're all good candidates and they're amazing players.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Jim Dahl has what the old Pairwise rankings would have looked like, if the NCAA used the Pairwise Ranking from last season. To be honest with you, I don't like the new Pairwise formula. I think it was an over reaction to the smaller schools whining about the big schools not traveling to the smaller schools home arenas.

Monday, March 24, 2014

After a crazy weekend of conference tournaments, the 2014 men's ice hockey field was set on Sunday morning. The NCAA looks at the Pairwise rankings, along with auto bids from winning conference tournaments to determine the 16 team field of play.

Lets take a look at this years tournament, first starting with the West Regional in St. Paul working our way east. In the region's first game, we have the number one overall seed Minnesota Golden Gophers facing off against auto bid Robert Morris. This match up seems to have everything made for an easy Minnesota victory, but so did their opening round game against Yale last year. Do we need to even mention the Holy Cross game in 2006 in Grand Forks? What I am trying to get at here is that the Gophers better not take this game too lightly or they could be golfing early once again. One thing they do have on their side is the home ice advantage of playing at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. In the last West Regional hosted here, the Gophers would skate to a regional championship with a 5-2 victory over the University of North Dakota.

For the second game in this regional we have another Minnesota team in St. Cloud State facing off against the always tough Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This opening round game has everything in store for it to be a classic. It has all of the tools to be set up as a classic goaltending duel. Between SCSU's Ryan Faragher and Notre Dame's Steven Summerhays, I would say this is going to be a very low scoring contest. However, one must look at the end of season disaster in the first round of NCHC play against Miami, is one to think that the confidence will be down after getting swept, or will the extra week of no games have them primed and ready to go? Notre Dame, on the other hand, is coming into this tournament knocking off the number two overall seed Boston College, to get to their conference tournament, but would lose 4-0 in the semifinal to the surging UMass Lowell.

I have Notre Dame and Minnesota winning in the first round of this region with Notre Dame advancing to the Frozen Four. I know this is bold, but much like Michigan did in 2011, Summerhays is a goalie who is hot and can carry this Notre Dame team far in this tournament.

Moving to the Midwest Regional where we have number four overall seed Wisconsin playing the team they helped get in by beating Ohio State Saturday, North Dakota. The team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux is coming into this tournament off of a 5-0 victory over Western Michigan in the NCHC third place game. However, their Friday night game against Miami was by far one of the worst games that this UND squad had played all season. Not cashing in on opportunities when in front of them and giving up goals that were not North Dakota like goals to give up. However, if the UND team that played on Saturday shows up in this tournament, watch out. There could possibly be an eighth banner being hung up at the beginning of next season. As for Wisconsin, they are coming off of a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory in the Big Ten championship game against Ohio State. In their last 10 games, the Badgers are an amazing 8-2-0 and if you go back to 12 games, you will find a home ice sweep of Minnesota. These former WCHA rivals are going to beat each other up in this game. Look for a lot of physicality and a very low scoring contest.

For the other game in the Midwest Region, we have Ferris State playing Colgate. Colgate is coming off a 5-2 loss to Union, who is this week's USCHO poll number one team, in the ECAC championship game. Before that, Colgate is 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, including a 4-4 stand-off against Union. As for one of the new WCHA members, Ferris State, they are also coming off a conference championship loss to Minnesota State Mankato of a score of 4-1. Both teams are coming in with something to prove, and have a very tough road to get to the Frozen Four, but never count out a team who just was recently in a Frozen Four with Ferris State.

I have North Dakota and Ferris State winning their opening round match ups with North Dakota advancing to the Frozen Four.

Moving east, we have Union skating into Bridgeport, Connecticut to play the Vermont Catamounts, who is coming off of a very impressive season. However, the Catamounts are coming off of a 3 game Hockey East playoff series loss to UMass Lowell so they also are coming into the tournament on a losing note. However, maybe the extra rest will give them all of the tools for an upset against this very tough Union team. Union is coming into the tournament winning the ECAC championship and as the number one ranked team in the USCHO.com poll. I just can't see Vermont coming out on top in this game, but in this tournament, you can't count anyone out.

For the second game in the East Regional we have Providence playing Quinnipiac. Quinnipiac is looking for a second straight trip to the Frozen Four, but hoping for better results then last season. They also are coming off of a heartbreaking double overtime loss in the ECAC semi finals to Colgate so they come in with a little extra weight on their shoulders. As for Providence, they also are coming off their conference semi final to a loss 3-1 against UNH. going 11-7-2 in a very tough Hockey East, Providence looks to prove that they are deserving on making this tournament by advancing past the first round.

I have Union facing Quinnipiac in the regional final, in what could be another tournament classic if the game actually does happen, with Union advancing to the Frozen Four.

Finally we move to the Northeast Regional in Worchester, Mass. Both opening round games look to be classics with UMass Lowell playing Minnesota State Mankato in the regions first game. MSUM is coming off of a very successful season, only missing out on the WCHA regular season crown to Ferris State by just a single point. However, Mankato would get their revenge in the conference tournament by beating the Bulldogs and win their first WCHA tournament crown. As for Lowell, they probably are coming into this tournaments as one of the hottest teams in the country and will be a tough opponent for anybody in this tournament.

For the second game, we have auto bid Denver facing off against number two Boston College. After a lot of people were skeptical about Denver this season, especially with the departure of George Gwozdecky, but this Pioneer squad never gave up and won the first ever NCHC Frozen Face-Off. As for BC, the Eagles took an early exit from their conference tournament, losing to Notre Dame, Hockey East's newest member. However, the Eagles to play home to the NCAA's likely Hobey Baker winner in Johnny Gaudreau. BC is always a tough opponent this time of year and if they keep up their pattern since 2008, it is their year to win the NCAA title.

I have BC and UMass winning their first round games with UMass advancing to the Frozen Four. The choice for this region wasn't that easy, but I had to go with the hotter team.

Finally for my Frozen Four picks. I have Notre Dame advancing over North Dakota to the title game, with UND having nightmares once again with another hot goalie, much like in 2011. I also Have Union advancing over UMass. UMass can only ride the hot streak for so long and Union is going to put the fire out. Finally for this year's national championship game, I have Union beating Notre Dame.

Now I know some of you are probably thinking I am crazy for picking these two schools to advance to my title game, but that's the power of opinion. Feel free to share what you think with me on twitter at the handle of @siouxhockey33.

The Big Red Line of the Wisconsin Badgers was a very good forward line, there's no disputing that, they scored 161 points combined during the 1999-00 season. Check this out, the line that Boston College forward Johnny Gaudreau is a member is on, has scored an eye popping 173 points this season. That's 12 points past the storied Wisconsin line. Also, that line has at least one more game left to play this season. You have to wonder what kind of damage they can do if they make the Frozen Four and play in the championship game. That's four more games. They could hit 180-200 points combined.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

The Boston College Eagles win the Beanpot yet again. The Eagles are smoking hot right now unbeaten in 15 games (14-0-1), that's the longest in the nation, that's their fifth Beanpot in a row. Also, the Eagles forward Johnny Gaudrea (25g-33a—50pts), is smoking hot right now, and in the last six games has scored (5g-6a—11pts).

How would you like to be a goaltender? The forward line of (1) Johnny Gaudreau (25g-33a—58pts) – (4) Bill Arnold (11g-31a—42pts) – (2) Kevin Hayes (21g-27a—48pts) is by far the best line in college hockey right now.

Monday, February 03, 2014

Boston University defenseman Doyle Somerby was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Boston College forward Kevin Hays. Hayes didn't miss a shift, and he was back out on the power-play.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Gophers fans thought forward Taylor Cammarata had scored the game winning goal against Boston College Eagles during the overtime period of Friday’s game. After further review, video confirmed that the puck has stayed out of the net when Eagles defenseman Ian McCoshen grabbed the rebound off Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko and threw the puck down the ice. If anything, the play should dead because of the hand pass.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

So as we sit here on Saturday, waiting for the championship
game of the Frozen Four, and I have to admit that there are no “sexy”
traditional match-ups, in the 2013 Frozen Four.

So what?

What else are we going to do today? It’s not like
it’s nice outside.

That’s not saying that the hockey hasn’t been good this
year, because it has. There are just no traditional matchups between historical
powers like Michigan vs. Minnesota or North Dakota versus Boston College.

Does it really matter? Nope!

Tonight, a couple of brainiac schools from Connecticut, that are about 8 miles apart, according to USCHO’s Brian Sullivan, are going to show
case their conferences skills, in "pinnacle"
of college hockey’s season.

For the First time in 23 years, a school from the ECAC is
going to win the national championship in division I college hockey.

Wait, what?

So in case you’re confused, two teams from the ECAC will take
center stage tonight, one of them are going to be National Champions.

In the final game of the 2012-13 NCAA Division ICollege Hockey
season, Yale takes on Quinnipiac University to determine who the best team is for the
2012-13 season. They've earned, and I must offer my congratulations.

While their playing hockey the naysayers will be eating some
crow. I will take Caribbean Jerk on my crow.